Pressurized aerosol dispenser

Abstract

A pressurized aerosol dispenser comprising a container ( 2 ) for material to be stored therein and dispensed therefrom, and a metering dispensing valve ( 1 ), said metering dispensing valve ( 1 ) comprising a generally cup-shaped metering vessel ( 7 ) held in place by means of a cap ( 3 ) fixedly mounted upon said container ( 2 ), and a sealing member ( 9 ) disposed between the metering vessel ( 7 ) and the cap ( 3 ), said sealing member ( 9 ) having an opening within which a valve stem ( 8 ) is mounted for sliding movement along a longitudinal axis, the metering vessel ( 7 ) having an open mouth, an internal surface of which defines an annular contact surface ( 24, 25 ) against which said sealing member ( 9 ) bears, wherein said contact surface ( 24, 25 ) comprises a first outwardly-flared portion ( 24 ) disposed at a first angle to said longitudinal axis and a second outwardly-flared portion ( 25 ) disposed at a second angle to said longitudinal axis, said second angle being greater than said first angle such that an annular ridge ( 26 ) is formed.

1. A pressurised aerosol dispenser comprising a container ( 2 ) for material to be stored therein and dispensed therefrom, and a metering dispensing valve ( 1 );
 said metering dispensing valve ( 1 ) comprising a generally cup-shaped metering vessel ( 7 ) held in place by means of a cap ( 3 ) fixedly mounted upon said container ( 2 ), and a sealing member ( 9 ) disposed between the metering vessel ( 7 ) and the cap ( 3 ), said sealing member ( 9 ) having an opening within which a valve stem ( 8 ) is mounted for sliding movement along a longitudinal axis, the metering vessel ( 7 ) having an open mouth, an internal surface of which defines an annular contact surface ( 24 , 25 ) against which said sealing member ( 9 ) bears, 
 wherein said contact surface ( 24 , 25 ) comprises a first outwardly-flared portion ( 24 ) disposed at a first angle to said longitudinal axis and a second outwardly-flared portion ( 25 ) disposed at a second angle to said longitudinal axis, said second angle being greater than said first angle such that an annular ridge ( 26 ) is formed at the junction between said first outwardly-flared portion ( 24 ) and said second outwardly-flared portion ( 25 ). 
 
   
   
     2. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first outwardly-flared portion ( 24 ) is disposed at an angle of between 5° and 30° to the longitudinal axis, and the second outwardly-flared portion ( 25 ) at an angle of between 30° and 60°. 
   
   
     3. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first outwardly-flared portion ( 24 ) is disposed at an angle of between 10° and 20° to the longitudinal axis, and the second outwardly-flared portion ( 25 ) at an angle of between 45° and 55°. 
   
   
     4. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the difference between the angles at which the second and first outwardly-flared portions ( 25 , 24 ) are disposed, relative to the longitudinal axis, is between 20° and 45°. 
   
   
     5. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the difference between the angles at which the second and first outwardly-flared portions ( 25 , 24 ) are disposed, relative to the longitudinal axis, is between 30° and 40°. 
   
   
     6. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second outwardly-flared portion ( 25 ) is concave. 
   
   
     7. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mouth of the metering vessel ( 7 ) includes a support surface upon which the sealing member ( 9 ) is supported. 
   
   
     8. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the support surface is formed with a recess at the foot of the first outwardly-flared portion ( 24 ). 
   
   
     9. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said recess takes the form of an annular groove. 
   
   
     10. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said support surface is formed integrally with said metering vessel ( 7 ). 
   
   
     11. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said support surface is the upper surface of a support ring ( 13 ) positioned within said metering vessel ( 7 ) and said recess is a space ( 20 ) between juxtaposed surfaces of said support ring ( 13 ) and said metering vessel ( 7 ). 
   
   
     12. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said support surface is formed with a radiussed shoulder ( 23 ). 
   
   
     13. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the volume of said metering vessel is less than 200 μl. 
   
   
     14. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the volume of the metering vessel is between 30 and 70 μl. 
   
   
     15. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the difference between the angles at which the second and first outwardly-flared portions ( 25 , 24 ) are disposed, relative to the longitudinal axis, is between 20° and 45°. 
   
   
     16. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the difference between the angles at which the second and first outwardly-flared portions ( 25 , 24 ) are disposed, relative to the longitudinal axis, is between 20° and 45°. 
   
   
     17. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the difference between the angles at which the second and first outwardly-flared portions ( 25 , 24 ) are disposed, relative to the longitudinal axis, is between 30° and 40°. 
   
   
     18. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the difference between the angles at which the second and first outwardly-flared portions ( 25 , 24 ) are disposed, relative to the longitudinal axis, is between 30° and 40°. 
   
   
     19. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the difference between the angles at which the second and first outwardly-flared portions ( 25 , 24 ) are disposed, relative to the longitudinal axis, is between 30° and 40°. 
   
   
     20. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second outwardly-flared portion ( 25 ) is concave. 
   
   
     21. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the second outwardly-flared portion ( 25 ) is concave. 
   
   
     22. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the second outwardly-flared portion ( 25 ) is concave. 
   
   
     23. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the second outwardly-flared portion ( 25 ) is concave. 
   
   
     24. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the mouth of the metering vessel ( 7 ) includes a support surface upon which the sealing member ( 9 ) is supported. 
   
   
     25. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the mouth of the metering vessel ( 7 ) includes a support surface upon which the sealing member ( 9 ) is supported. 
   
   
     26. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the mouth of the metering vessel ( 7 ) includes a support surface upon which the sealing member ( 9 ) is supported. 
   
   
     27. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the mouth of the metering vessel ( 7 ) includes a support surface upon which the sealing member ( 9 ) is supported. 
   
   
     28. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the mouth of the metering vessel ( 7 ) includes a support surface upon which the sealing member ( 9 ) is supported. 
   
   
     29. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the support surface is formed with a recess at the foot of the first outwardly-flared portion ( 24 ). 
   
   
     30. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said recess takes the form of an annular groove. 
   
   
     31. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said support surface is formed integrally with said metering vessel ( 7 ). 
   
   
     32. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said support surface is the upper surface of a support ring ( 13 ) positioned within said metering vessel ( 7 ) and said recess is a space ( 20 ) between juxtaposed surfaces of said support ring ( 13 ) and said metering vessel ( 7 ). 
   
   
     33. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said support surface is formed with a radiussed shoulder ( 23 ). 
   
   
     34. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said support surface is formed with a radiussed shoulder ( 23 ). 
   
   
     35. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said support surface is formed with a radiussed shoulder ( 23 ). 
   
   
     36. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said support surface is formed with a radiussed shoulder ( 23 ). 
   
   
     37. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said support surface is formed with a radiussed shoulder ( 23 ). 
   
   
     38. The dispenser as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said support surface is formed with a radiussed shoulder ( 23 ).